Full Exposure

Sun Exposure:

Various Soils

Soil:

Rounded

Shape:

The Nanking Cherry has a(n) Rounded shape.

More Info

Attributes:

The Nanking cherry is a lovely sight in early spring. The pink buds unfold into fragrant pale pink or white flowers. The profuse blossoms appear before the soft green leaves. The edible brilliant red fruits will ripen in early to late summer. The shiny, exfoliating, reddish brown bark is a distinctive attraction in winter. This is a vigorous adaptable shrub particularly suited to the cold winters and hot summers of the central and northern plains of the United States and Canada. The Nanking cherry can be used for shrub borders, hedge, windbreak filler, wildlife habitat, as a specimen or in masses.

Nanking Cherry is not self-fertile. Plant two or more shrubs within 100 feet to ensure cross-pollination. Closer spacing in a hedge row is preferable. This cherry is insect pollinated, so the shrubs' bloom times must be compatible.

Wildlife Value:

The shrub provides habitat and the fruit attract birds and other wildlife.

History/Lore/Use:

The Nanking cherry is native to central Asia. It was introduced to the North America in 1882. Other common names are Manchu cherry, downy cherry, mountain cherry, Mongolian cherry and Chinese bush cherry, hedge cherry.
The word tomentosa indicates the hairy nature of the underside of the leaf of this tree. The tart, tangy fruit can be eaten fresh or used in pies, jams, and jellies. This shrub is dwarfing stock for cherries. Its branches can be cut in mid-winter and forced to bloom indoors in early spring.

Moisture:

The Nanking cherry prefers well drained soil, but will tolerate drought and grows under semi-arid conditions.

Leaves:

Flower Color:

Pinkish buds change to pale pink to white, 3/4" fragrant flowers.

Bloom Time:

Early spring.

Fruit Description:

The edible fruits are scarlet, 1/3" across, nearly round ripening in June to August.

Fragrant white spring flowers, shiny reddish-brown bark and edible scarlet fruit make the Nanking cherry a favorite for mass plantings and borders. This is a vigorous, adaptable shrub particularly suited to the cold winters and hot summers of the central and northern plains of the United States and Canada. And the dense branching pattern means the shrub is also well-suited for use as a windbreak filler, hedge or wildlife habitat.

The tart, tangy fruit ripen in mid- to late summer and can be eaten fresh or used in pies, jams, and jellies.

Spring Shipping 2015

Fall Shipping 2015

Color

Zone

Approximate Ship Dates

Order Deadline

Approximate Ship Dates

Order Deadline

02

04/15 - 05/30

05/07

11/01 - 11/26

11/12

03

04/15 - 05/30

05/07

11/01 - 11/26

11/12

04

04/15 - 05/30

05/07

11/01 - 11/26

11/12

05

04/15 - 05/30

05/07

11/01 - 11/26

11/12

06

03/19 - 05/12

04/30

11/01 - 12/03

11/19

07

03/11 - 05/07

04/23

11/05 - 12/10

11/26

08

02/26 - 04/30

04/16

11/05 - 12/10

11/26

09

02/26 - 04/30

04/16

11/05 - 12/10

11/26

10

02/26 - 04/30

04/16

11/05 - 12/10

11/26

We're sorry, but this tree can't be shipped to AK, AZ, CA, HI, LA, OR, WA, territories, or countries outside the United States. This is due to the agricultural laws within these locations.

When you order trees from The Arbor Day Foundation, your order is guaranteed to arrive in a good, healthy condition or we'll replace them at no charge. Your trees will be shipped at a suitable time for planting.

Each tree is guaranteed to grow, or we'll replace it at one half the original price, plus shipping and handling.

The benefits of bare-root trees

Our trees are delivered with natural bare roots which have been dipped in hydrating gel prior to shipment to keep the roots moist and healthy. As their abundant, fibrous roots aren't confined by a container, bare-root trees get off to a more vigorous start compared to containerized roots which typically need more time to adjust to transplanting. Bare-root trees typically surpass the size of larger containerized trees in only a few years.

Natural Root and Containerized Trees

Natural root (also called bare root) trees are shipped without soil around their roots. They are shipped when dormant in the spring and fall seasons. We dip the roots in a hydrating gel to keep them moist during shipping.

There are a number of advantages to natural root trees:

They are very affordable.

Their roots re-establish themselves well once they are planted in their permanent location.